Wiktionary

absolve

See also: absolvé

English edit

Etymology edit

First attested in the early 15th century. From Middle English absolven, from Latin absolvere, present active infinitive of absolvō (“set free, acquit”), from ab (“away from”) + solvō (“loosen, free, release”). Doublet of assoil.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /əbˈzɒlv/
  • (US) IPA(key): /æbˈzɑlv/, /æbˈsɑlv/, /əbˈzɑlv/, /əbˈsɑlv/
  • Audio (US)(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɒlv, -ɑlv

Verb edit

absolve (third-person singular simple present absolves, present participle absolving, simple past and past participle absolved)

  1. (transitive) To set free, release or discharge (from obligations, debts, responsibility etc.). [First attested around 1350 to 1470.][1]
    You will absolve a subject from his allegiance.
  2. (transitive, obsolete) To resolve; to explain; to solve. [Attested from the late 15th century until the mid 17th century.][1]
  3. (transitive) To pronounce free from or give absolution for a penalty, blame, or guilt. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
  4. (transitive, law) To pronounce not guilty; to grant a pardon for. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
  5. (transitive, theology) To grant a remission of sin; to give absolution to. [First attested in the mid 16th century.][1]
    • 1597, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, act 3, scene 5:
      To make confession and to be absolved.
  6. (transitive, theology) To remit a sin; to give absolution for a sin. [First attested in the late 16th century.][1]
  7. (transitive, obsolete) To finish; to accomplish. [Attested from the late 16th century until the early 19th century.][1]
  8. (transitive) To pass a course or test; to gain credit for a class; to qualify academically.

Usage notes edit

  • (to set free, release from obligations): Normally followed by the word from.
  • (to pronounce free from; give absolution for blame): Normally followed by the word from.

Synonyms edit

Derived terms edit

Related terms edit

English terms derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *lewh₃-‎ (0 c, 29 e)

Translations edit

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

References edit

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Lesley Brown, editor-in-chief, William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, editors (2002), “absolve”, in The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, 5th edition, Oxford, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 9.

Galician edit

Verb edit

absolve

  1. inflection of absolver:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative

Latin edit

Verb edit

absolve

  1. second-person singular present active imperative of absolvō

Portuguese edit

Verb edit

absolve

  1. inflection of absolver:
    1. third-person singular present indicative
    2. second-person singular imperative
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